Ballistic Missiles

Ballistic missiles are short-, medium-, and long-range rocket-propelled vehicles that deliver nuclear or conventional weapons. RAND's analyses help policymakers understand the potential uses of ballistic missiles for warfare and terrorism, the likelihood of their use by combatants, possible defense strategies, and emerging threats to the global security environment.

Research conducted by: RAND Project AIR FORCE; RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Arroyo Center

All Items (35)

REPORT

Book by Noted Expert Proposes a Renaissance of Thought on Nuclear Deterrence for Today's Strategic Environment — Apr 17, 2012

A new book by the late French scholar Thérèse Delpech provides a critical review and update of nuclear deterrence theory, focusing a critical eye on nuclear issues during the Cold War, examining the lessons of past nuclear crises, and outlining ways in which these lessons apply to major nuclear powers and nuclear pretenders today.

NEWS RELEASE

Book by Noted Expert Proposes a Renaissance of Thought on Nuclear Deterrence for Today's Strategic Environment — Apr 17, 2012

A new book by the late French scholar Thérèse Delpech provides a critical review and update of nuclear deterrence theory, focusing a critical eye on nuclear issues during the Cold War, examining the lessons of past nuclear crises, and outlining ways in which these lessons apply to major nuclear powers and nuclear pretenders today.

COMMENTARY

Getting Value from the U.S.-ROK Summit — Jun 14, 2009

For months, N. Korea has been trying to upstage the summit between S. Korean President Lee and U.S. President Obama that is scheduled for June 16. Almost all Americans I know have heard of the recent N. Korean provocations. But few have heard anything about the U.S.-ROK summit, writes Bruce Bennett.

COMMENTARY

No Surprise in Failure to Deter North Korea — Jun 4, 2009

North Korea's latest misbehavior highlights an uncomfortable truth: the failure of the United States and the international community to deter its actions. In this case, it is pretty easy to see why North Korea has not been deterred, writes Bruce Bennett.

COMMENTARY

N.K. Provocation Suggests Regime in Trouble — Apr 8, 2009

North Korea spent weeks preparing to launch a ballistic missile that could reach the United States. It argued that the launch was intended to put a satellite into orbit. But a space launch vehicle is a ballistic missile used for a modestly different purpose, writes Bruce W. Bennett.

REPORT

Strategy in the Missile Age — Oct 8, 2007

Classic work from 1959 that discusses the origins of air power, its cornerstone position in the evolution of Cold War era nuclear strategy, and its treatment of preventive and preemptive attacks, deterrence, and the economics of strategy.

COMMENTARY

U.S., European Strategy Must Adjust to Confront Military Power in China — Jul 29, 2007

Ever since China test-fired ballistic missiles… in 1995 and 1996, many analysts have sounded the alarm about the threat of China's military power. This has been a false alarm until now, but within a decade China could supplant America as the dominant military power in East Asia, writes Roger Cliff.

COMMENTARY

Missile Defense: Avoiding a Crisis in Europe — Mar 29, 2007

Published commentary by RAND staff: Missile Defense: Avoiding a Crisis in Europe, in International Herald Tribune.

COMMENTARY

Nothing's Free in Dealing with Putin — Aug 1, 2001

Published commentary by RAND staff.

COMMENTARY

There's a Better Way to Missile Defense — May 3, 2001

Published commentary by RAND staff.

COMMENTARY

The China and Nuclear Reunion Is Only a Motive Away — Feb 24, 2001

Published commentary by RAND staff

JOURNAL ARTICLE

GPS-Aided Guidance for Ballistic Missile Applications: An Assessment — Dec 31, 1995

The proliferation of Third World ballistic missiles is a major concern for the U.S. government. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of U.S. control policies as they pertain to ballistic missiles, focusing on those with ranges of 300-1000 km.

REPORT

Calculating the Utility of Attacks Against Ballistic Missile Transporter-Erector-Launchers — Dec 31, 1994

Calculating the utility of attacks against ballistic missile transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) associated with the proliferation of theater ballistic missiles (TBMs) can play a role in sharply reducing the prospective threat size.

REPORT

Strategic Futures: Evolving Missions for Traditional Strategic Delivery Vehicles — Dec 31, 1994

Addresses the post-Cold War use of traditional U.S. strategic nuclear forces (nuclear-armed long-range bombers, ICBMs, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles) from three perspectives: top-down, bottom-up, and policy.

REPORT

When the Weak Attack the Strong: Failures of Deterrence — Dec 31, 1990

One potential justification for a thin area missile defense is the increasing proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. However, it has been argued that states possessing such weapons would not attack much stronger states s...

REPORT

U.S. export control policy and the Missile Technology Control Regime — Dec 31, 1989

The proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a worldwide threat. The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) was created in 1987 to help control the spread of delivery system technology by means of parallel export restrictions among signatory membe...

REPORT

The Impact of Missile Proliferation on U.S. Power Projection Capabilities — Dec 31, 1989

Addresses the proliferation of ballistic missiles with conventional warheads, including chemical warheads.

REPORT

Limitations on tactical missile defenses: negotiated and otherwise — Dec 31, 1987

The launching of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative raises defense strategy issues surrounding the capabilities of antitactical ballistic missiles (ATBMs) and the U.S.-Soviet antiballistic missile treaty of 1972. This paper explores potential poli...

REPORT

The Geometry of a Satellite-Ballistic Missile Engagement — Dec 31, 1987

This Note describes in mathematical terms the dynamic geometry between a constellation of satellites deployed for ballistic missile defense (BMD) and the missiles the satellites are engaging.

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